Bulldozer



PEEK 29,1941. R SWORD 2,239,943

BULLDOZER Filed April 14, 1939 IN YEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Fdtented Apr. 29, 1941 BmmmR Robert dword iiinalaw, @reg. ApplicationApril id, 1939, beriai No. Ziiibtd 3 Claims.

This invention relates to bulldozers and is particularly adapted tofacilitate the tilting of the blade.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a connecting frameworkbetween the bull- ClL di -Md) dozer blade and the tractor that isflexible and that will permit the raising or lowering oi either end ofthe blade without twisting the blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide connections for abulldozer blade relative to a tractor that can be operated while thetractor is in motion for tilting, raising or lowering of the blade.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for raisingor lowering the blade equally throughout its length or raising one endof the blade without moving the opposite end or lowering one end of theblade while the opposite end is raised without in any way twisting theblade.

And it further object of my invention is to provide control levers thatcan be operated touether in unison or operated separately for difierentmanipulations of the blade.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawing andspecification to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side view or my new and proved bulldozer mounted on atractor.

Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the bulldozer blade removedfrom the tractor, the framework partially broken away.

Fhure 3 is a plan detail view of one of the socket fittings for holdingthe framework to the blade.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a dlagramrnatical lay-out of the raising and loweringcylinders in connection with their control valves and illustrating themanner in which the control levers are hooked up thereto.

In the drawing: A commonly known type of bulldozer blade is indicated bynumeral i, but any type of blad may be employed. The tractor isindicated at 2. Rearwardly extending bars d end t are pivotallyconnected to the blade 5 at b and 5. They may be pivotally connwted, asshown, through a ball and socket connection. In the drawing, I haveshown a socket i that may be formed in two sections, as sections 8 and9, section b of which may be securely fastened to the blade t by anysuitable means, for instance welding could be employed. The half sectionb may be removed and is held in place by bolts to. men the section it isin place it will support 7 the boil it, which is formed integral withthe her 3, and holds each bar in a pivotally mounted relation. 1 do notwish to be limited to this par tieular type oi connection, as otherforms off mechanical connections might be employed, for providing aplvotally mounted connection to the bars 3 and t relative to the bladel.

The opposite ends it or the bars 3 end t are so connected to the tractorE that such bars are capable of limited universal swinging and rockingmovement relative to the spindle it, which may be secured to anyconvenient location on the tractor. The connection between the spindlesit end the bars ii and ii is such as to permit pivotal play of the barswith sufficient freedom of move= ment as to permit tilting of the bladewithout binding or warping of the parts. Braces id and it brace theblade I! in twodirections, that is brace the upper edge of the blade itfrom tilting backward or forward and form corner braces between the barsti and t and the blade l. Refez-ring to Figure 2 it will be noted thatthe inner ends that are connected to the blade E or these cross bracesIt and it almost meet in the upp center of the blade relative to itslength.

The braces it and it are connected to the side frames 3 and d bysuitable pivot socket fittings ill and they are connected to the bladeby means of the socket connections it. These connections permit pivotalmovement of either end of the braces it and lb. It is apparent that thefront end of the push arms and or the diagonal brace on each side mustbe pivotolly connected to the blade to permit swinmng movement of thearm and brace on one side as a unit about an axis running through thepoints of the pivotal connections of these parts. The braces may beformed in two parts, such as tubes it and 2b telescopically related andlocked at any desired point, as by locking means it, to provide forangular adjustment of the blade.

The blade may be raised and lowered by any suitable raising or loweringmeans. I have illustrated bell cranlm 2t pivotally mounted at 23 to amain frame structure it. Fluid pressure cylinders 25, having theirpistons it connected to the arm ill at 28 control the position of thehell cranks 2s. A connecting link it connects socket fitting at on eachof the braces it and it odiocent its one end remote from the blade tothe corresponding bell crank 22 by pivot connection ti.

In the operation or my new and improved bulldozer blade the cylinders 25are controlled by suitable valves 32, governed by handles 33 eithersimultaneously, separately or in opposite directions. For instance ifthe handles 33 were held together and manipulated in either directionthe valves 32 would act in unison supplying fluid to the cylinders 25,raising or lowering the bulldozer blade without tilting either end. Incase it is desired to raise one end of the blade while the other remainsstationary one of the handles 33 would be operated, controlling one ofthe valves 32 and supplying only one of the cylinders with operatingfluid. In this case one endof the blade would be raised or lowered. Ifthe levers 33 were operated in opposite directions one end of the bladewould be raised and the opposite end would be lowered.

X will now explain the main feature of my invention. By observing Figure2 closely it will be noted that if one end of the blade were raised, forinstance the left side relative to the drawing, there would be a hingingaction on line A-B which would allow the blade to be raised or loweredwithout twisting. At the same time the brace it would brace the blade onits vertical line, while acting as a brace against side thrust betweenthe side frame 3 and the bulldozer blade 9. A corresponding hinged lineBC must be considered in the operation of my new and improved bulldozer,these lines A-B and 3-6 indicate the principle of my invention. Byplacing the braces as shown, solid support is given the bulldozer bladeas heretofore described, while also providing flexibility when eitherend of the blade is raised or lowered, commonly known as tilting theblade.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular mechanical embodiment, asother types of mechanical combinations may be used, still coming withinthe scope of the claims to follow.

What is claimed to be new is:

1. A bulldozer, bars extending from the lower outer ends of thebulldozer to a road vehicle, the connection of-the bars to the roadvehicle being mounted for limited universal swinging and rockingmovement, said bars supporting the bulldozer for movement with respectto the vehicle, braces intermediate the bars and bulldozer, the bracesbeing connected at one end'to the bars at a distance from the bulldozer,and being connected at the bulldozer at the upper end or" the latter andadjacent the vertical central line of the bulldozer the ends of a braceand bar being connected to the bulldozer on one side at the center linethereof and arranged to permit swln ing oi the arm and brace as a unitabout an axis running through the connection of said arm and brace tothe bulldozer, a power means operative from the vehicle, connectionsfrom the power means, said. power means serving to actuate either orboth of the braces-at will, the operation of one such brace tending totilt the bulldozer on the pivotal support of the opposite bar, and theoperation of both of said braces serving to raise or lower the bulldozerthrough the medium of the pivotal connected bars.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the connection betweenthe power means and the braces is adjacent the connection of the bracesto the bars.

3. A construction as definedin claim 1 wherein the braces are oftelescopic formation, capable of being secured at different lengths.

ROBERT SWORD.

